“Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, please forgive my offense!”
Whoosh!
A wave of invisible, colorless Illusion Mist drifted toward Lu Xuan. This mist was potent enough to cause hallucinations even in high-star Great Emperors!
Lu Xuan simply smiled, opening his mouth to inhale, drawing all the mist into his nostrils.
He was currently operating at the power level of an Eight-star Great Emperor! His Invincible Stance not only granted him the theoretical ability to instantly kill a Nine-star Great Emperor, but also provided Myriad Laws Immunity against any attack below that threshold. To him, the mist simply ceased to exist.
Moreover, he possessed Five-star Emperor-tier Medical Attainment. The Illusion Mist was completely useless against him.
A moment later, Lu Xuan merely sneezed. Nothing happened.
Off to the side, Chen Changsheng’s Wooden Puppet Clone was stunned. How is that possible? Even ordinary Great Emperors should be affected by that!
Lu Xuan took a step, intending to walk out of the simple thatched hut.
Suddenly, an incredibly profound energy surged from the nameless mountain range. In the space of a single breath, endless, dazzling array formations rose from the earth. The formation activated with terrifying speed, heaven-piercing spirit runes surging forth like a river of stars.
In the blink of an eye, Lu Xuan found himself trapped within a ten-layered maze array. Illusions manifested before him, constantly shifting—sometimes towering mountains, sometimes raging rivers, sometimes the icy snows of the far north—appearing complex, treacherous, and utterly captivating.
“The Nine Revolutions Heaven Sealing Array!” Lu Xuan was dumbfounded. “This third disciple really has some tricks up his sleeve!”
Within the Nine Revolutions Heaven Sealing Array, countless formation runes interwove and flowed, like massive nets concealing the heavens.
The Wooden Puppet Clone spoke, its voice carrying an ancient resonance. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, if you abandon the idea of taking me as your disciple, I can allow you to return to the Grand Dao Sect.”
As the voice faded, an Ancient Jade Slip drifted down, hovering before Lu Xuan. He took the slip and probed it with his divine sense.
Inside was a complete Heavenly Dao Oath.
“I, Lu Xuan, hereby swear before the Heavenly Dao that I shall never take Chen Changsheng as my disciple…”
Beyond the no-discipleship clause, the oath covered mutual non-aggression, never prying into the other’s secrets, and never revealing any part of their conversation. It was a sprawling document, easily over ten thousand characters long!
This time, Chen Changsheng had even factored in the River of Time, making it a completely new, ultra-paranoid version of the Heavenly Dao Oath!
Lu Xuan burst into laughter. “Old Third, you really are the master of Ultra Low-Profile!”
The Wooden Puppet Clone’s voice transmitted again. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, I sincerely suggest you swear this Heavenly Dao Oath. Afterward, we can still Discuss the Dao!”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “I refuse.”
He immediately activated his Insight Eye!
Instantly, this array, touted as ‘Heaven Sealing,’ revealed countless formation nodes before Lu Xuan. The shifting illusions vanished, replaced by the ‘threads’ of formation runes, hanging down like a celestial river.
He quickly spotted several weak points in the Nine Revolutions Heaven Sealing Array.
Without hesitation, Lu Xuan launched a punch at the first weak node.
Crack!
Endless, dazzling spirit runes shattered. The space around Lu Xuan erupted in a magnificent display, like a night sky filled with exploding fireworks.
Lu Xuan continued his furious assault. Each punch swallowed mountains and rivers, exploding like a collapsing star, directly targeting the array’s flaws!
Fortunately, Lu Xuan had activated the Eight-star Great Emperor Experience Card! Otherwise, even if his Insight Eye revealed the flaws, he wouldn’t have the raw power to smash them.
Lu Xuan tore through the array, relentlessly pushing forward. Finally, the Nine Revolutions Heaven Sealing Array was utterly demolished. The spirit runes were annihilated, scattering like smoke.
Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred! A profound power surged from the ground beneath Lu Xuan’s feet—more formation runes! A Nested Array!
Lu Xuan hadn’t anticipated Chen Changsheng pulling this maneuver! The second teleportation array had been instantly shifted from outside the nameless mountain peak and activated the moment the Nine Revolutions Heaven Sealing Array shattered. The speed was blinding.
Spatial Power surged, and the energy in Lu Xuan’s body was instantly drawn out. This was actually the third array!
Lu Xuan was genuinely shocked. A Chain Array!
The first Nine Revolutions Heaven Sealing Array had merely been a distraction! The true core array wasn’t the teleportation array, but this third formation designed to siphon his power.
What was the meaning of this? The third array was drawing Lu Xuan’s Eight-star Great Emperor power as its source, using it to randomly teleport Lu Xuan an immense distance. The second array was just a ‘launcher.’ The third array was using Lu Xuan’s own strength to fuel the jump.
In other words, the stronger Lu Xuan was, the further he would be sent!
Lu Xuan couldn’t help but call it heaven-defying! Who would have thought there would be three linked arrays here? Crucially, only the Nine Revolutions Heaven Sealing Array was on the mountain peak; the other two were hidden elsewhere.
Lu Xuan didn’t try to stop the teleportation. He was curious to see just how far his Eight-star Emperor power could send him.
One hour later.
Lu Xuan finally landed. The area was utterly desolate—collapsed peaks, dried-up rivers. It was a dead zone, tens of thousands of miles of ruins where the power of Heaven and Earth had been extinguished, leaving behind a savage wasteland.
Lu Xuan’s face darkened. He scanned the surroundings with his divine sense, laughing wryly. “Old Third, where the hell did you send me? Is this even the Southern Wilds anymore?”
A moment later, Lu Xuan figured out his location.
Good news: It was still the Southern Wilds, specifically Fuzhou. This vast ruin was the former site of the Fuyao Dynasty!
Bad news: It was over ten million miles away from Baiya Prefecture!
Wait. Lu Xuan checked Chen Changsheng’s imprint. That guy wasn’t in Baiya Prefecture anymore; he had run off to Dengchuan Prefecture.
“Changsheng, you really know how to run!”
But Lu Xuan possessed the Corner of a Supreme Great Emperor Formation Pattern, allowing him to instantly arrive before Chen Changsheng.
Before leaving, Lu Xuan swept his gaze over the Fuyao Dynasty ruins once more. Three thousand years later, traces of the great war were still visible. Palaces had sunk, the earth was torn open, and ruin stretched everywhere.
Lu Xuan frowned slightly. He saw the remnant aura of a massive Heaven and Earth Array beneath the earth. It was a formation laid by the Heavenly Net Hall!
This Heaven and Earth Array was not simple. It was designed to seize the essence of creation and devour the fundamental principles of Heaven and Earth. It seemed the Heavenly Net Hall’s millennia-long rampage across the various prefectures, slaughtering major human factions, was not merely about killing and seizing treasure. Given that the Heavenly Net Hall was backed by the Silent Destruction Sect from the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, their true goal might be the fundamental principles of this entire world.
Killing and looting was just a cover.
Lu Xuan committed the matter to memory and immediately activated the Corner of a Supreme Great Emperor Formation Pattern, stepping toward Dengchuan Prefecture.
Instantly, a profound Spatial Power surged around him, and Lu Xuan’s figure vanished.
When he reappeared, Lu Xuan was in a hidden location in Dengchuan Prefecture. There was a cave dwelling here, where Chen Changsheng’s true body resided.
Seeing Lu Xuan suddenly descend, Chen Changsheng was utterly shocked. How is this possible? Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan was clearly teleported ten million miles away! How did he suddenly arrive in Dengchuan Prefecture? And how did he know I was here?
With that thought, Chen Changsheng’s true body immediately ran away, leaving behind another Wooden Puppet Clone. The clone transformed into a gray-robed old woman.
The old woman, her face covered in wrinkles, walked out of the cave dwelling, trembling, and approached Lu Xuan. “Fellow Daoist, what brings you here?”
Lu Xuan’s face twitched. At this point, you’re still putting on an act?
Lu Xuan turned to leave. Suddenly, the gray-robed old woman grinned and grabbed Lu Xuan’s sleeve. Lu Xuan inwardly cursed.
Instantly, dazzling formation runes surged from the old woman’s body, and Lu Xuan’s power was siphoned once more.
Lu Xuan was teleported again! He was speechless. Chen Changsheng had actually inscribed formation runes onto this gray-robed old woman!
In the void, the old woman gradually reverted to a Wooden Puppet Clone, its surface covered in interwoven Dao patterns, shimmering like lightning.
Chen Changsheng’s voice transmitted from the puppet. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, please stop!”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “Disciple, you can’t escape your Master’s palm!”
Chen Changsheng sighed softly, saying nothing more.
Half an hour later.
Lu Xuan was teleported to Ji Fuyao’s cave dwelling on Azure Mystery Peak.
Ji Fuyao was sitting cross-legged, her crimson dress flowing around her. Her slender hands constantly shifted as fierce Path of Spirit Fire energy surged around her; she was cultivating the Heaven-Burning Art!
Sensing the Eight-star Emperor aura, Ji Fuyao slowly opened her eyes and saw Lu Xuan. Her elegant neck tilted slightly in surprise. “Master?”
How did Master suddenly appear in my cave dwelling?
Lu Xuan said, “It’s a long story. Fuyao, continue your cultivation.”
Ji Fuyao replied with an ‘Oh,’ slowly closing her eyes to resume her practice. Her cave dwelling was naturally protected against unauthorized entry. But if it was Master, he was welcome...
Lu Xuan checked Chen Changsheng’s imprint. This time, the guy had run off to Langqiong Prefecture.
Lu Xuan was truly impressed. Just how many teleportation arrays had Chen Changsheng prepared for himself? From now on, he realized, he needed to keep his Insight Eye active at all times, or he would be caught off guard.
Lu Xuan once again activated the Corner of a Supreme Great Emperor Formation Pattern, Spatial Power surging around him, preparing to depart.
Before leaving, his gaze inadvertently swept over Ji Fuyao.
Ahem…
Lu Xuan silently recited the classic lines, “A mountain range viewed from the side, a peak viewed from the front; near, far, high, low, each view is different.” He immediately muttered, “Sin, sin,” before vanishing from Ji Fuyao’s cave dwelling.
Ji Fuyao opened her eyes, looking puzzled. “What sin did Master just mention?”
Meanwhile.
Lu Xuan had arrived at an undisclosed location in Langqiong Prefecture, where Chen Changsheng was hiding. This time, Lu Xuan was extremely cautious, and his Insight Eye quickly detected the various arrays Chen Changsheng had laid out.
Lu Xuan called out, “Disciple, come out now.”
Chen Changsheng’s voice replied, “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, what is your intention? You are already so powerful, why must you take me as a disciple?”
Lu Xuan spoke leisurely, “Your Persistent Thought is Longevity, and mine is guiding disciples to the absolute peak of the Grand Dao. Become my disciple, and I will help you cultivate!”
Chen Changsheng was silent, and then he ran away again.
Lu Xuan sighed. “Disciple, you can’t run from me.”
***
Three days later.
Lu Xuan achieved the Ten Captures of Chen Changsheng, finally cornering him in a remote thatched cottage.
This time, Chen Changsheng didn’t run.
But his heart was bleeding! Fighting Lu Xuan for three days had wasted countless resources and hidden trump cards. If he had known this would happen, he would have surrendered immediately in Baiya Prefecture!
Chen Changsheng looked at Lu Xuan with utter helplessness. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, what exactly is your goal?”
Lu Xuan’s eyes were profound and ancient. He spoke with the composure of an old sage. “To take a disciple!”
Chen Changsheng fell silent.
Lu Xuan asked, “Do you want to fight me head-on? I sense you are still unconvinced. I can suppress my realm to Eight-star Great Emperor and fight you! Because if I use my Nine-star Emperor cultivation, I fear you won’t be able to withstand my Stance.”
The Stance!
Nine-star Great Emperor was the dividing line for high-star Great Emperors, granting them their own unique ‘Stance’ or domain of power. Although the Stance varied in strength, Chen Changsheng knew Lu Xuan possessed a Supreme Secret Art capable of killing those above his realm.
Chen Changsheng frowned. He could instantly summon a massive army of Wooden Puppet Clones to fight Lu Xuan, but he didn’t dare risk it. The outcome was already clear.
If he fought again, he would lose even more resources. It was over. He was no match for Lu Xuan. In truth, he had lost the moment they Discussed the Dao in Baiya Prefecture...
Over the past three days, he had witnessed Lu Xuan’s terrifying, mysterious power.
At that moment, Lu Xuan saw the look on Chen Changsheng’s face and knew he had won. It seemed Chen Changsheng had made his choice and was ready to submit.
Perfect. The Eight-star Great Emperor Experience Card is almost expired. Who would have thought that the full three days of the Experience Card would be spent entirely chasing his third disciple?
Chen Changsheng suddenly asked, “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, what if I still refuse?”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “Then I will simply follow you until you agree to become my disciple.”
Chen Changsheng was speechless.
At that moment, his last line of defense was breached. He couldn’t beat him, and he couldn’t run from him.
After a moment of silence, Chen Changsheng said, “I can become your disciple, but you must swear a Heavenly Dao Oath.”
He pulled out an Ancient Jade Slip and handed it to Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan probed it with his divine sense and casually scanned the contents.
“After taking Chen Changsheng as his disciple, I, Lu Xuan, shall abide by the following:
First, I shall never pry into Chen Changsheng’s secrets.
Second, I shall never act rashly or bring Causality upon Chen Changsheng.
Third…”
It was tens of thousands of characters long. Lu Xuan’s face twitched. If he swore this oath, it sounded more like he was becoming Chen Changsheng’s disciple! Who was the master, and who was the apprentice? Was this guy serious?
Lu Xuan said calmly, “Changsheng, I have only one requirement for you: You must cultivate diligently. No other requirements.”
With that, Lu Xuan swore that single sentence as the Heavenly Dao Oath.
Chen Changsheng was utterly stunned. He realized that his ten-thousand-word oath could, in fact, be condensed into Lu Xuan’s single sentence...
Lu Xuan’s gaze was profound. “Your Master’s only wish is to see you all reach the absolute peak of the Grand Dao. I can provide all the cultivation resources you need. You only need to focus on cultivating!”
Chen Changsheng looked up and sighed deeply. “If Chen Changsheng was born, why must there be Xuan?”
It was done. He had lost.
Chen Changsheng respectfully performed the disciple ceremony toward Lu Xuan.
“I, Chen Changsheng, am willing to take Lu Xuan as my Master.”
“Good.” Lu Xuan smiled faintly, stepping into the cave dwelling with Chen Changsheng.
In his ear, the System’s voice chimed.
“Ding! Limited-time quest to recruit Chen Changsheng as the third disciple successfully completed!”